Event Details
Wheat Trail Festival Shines a Light on Mental Health in Rural Minnesota
Country Music Meets Advocacy in a Wide-Open Field
WHAT: Wheat Trail Festival, Presented by The LIVIN Foundation
This is a unique two-day outdoor country music and camping festival that goes beyond entertainment to bring life-saving mental health conversations, education, and suicide prevention resources directly to Minnesota’s rural and farming communities.
Wheat Trail Festival was inspired by and is modeled after the successful LIVIN Music Festival, which began eight years ago and has grown into one of the region's leading music events dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The LIVIN Foundation is a Minnesota non-profit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Founded in 2015 by Twin Cities radio personality Paul "PT" Thomas, the foundation’s primary mission is to eradicate the stigma associated with depression and mental illness.
The "Why": Understanding the Rural Mental Health Crisis
Farmers and rural residents face a unique, pressure-cooker environment: unpredictable weather, extreme financial volatility, long hours of isolation, and a historic lack of local mental health resources. According to data from the National Rural Health Association, the suicide rate among farmers is 3.5 times higher than that of the general population.
The Wheat Trail Festival was born to change that narrative. Modeled after the proven eight-year legacy of the LIVIN Foundation's signature event, this new Southern Minnesota chapter uses the universal language of country music to create an environment where conversations about mental wellness feel natural, hopeful, and entirely accessible.
WHEN: July 24 – July 25, 2026
Friday Gates Open at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday Family Fun Day starts at 10:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m. Entertainment starts
WHERE: Festival Grounds
16764 342nd Street
Goodhue, Minnesota
MUSIC HEADLINERS
Friday: Dylan Scott
Saturday: Montgomery-Gentry, featuring Eddie Montgomery
*Plus 6 additional bands, both national and regional talent performing throughout the weekend!
- Camping and family activities
- Food trucks and BBQ competition
- Cornhole tournament
- LIVIN Foundation resource booths
- Scenic rural Minnesota backdrop
TICKETS: https://www.universe.com/events/wheat-trail-festival-tickets-9K05V8?ref=share-widget-buffer
MORE INFO: https://www.universe.com/events/wheat-trail-festival-tickets-9K05V8?ref=share-widget-buffer
About The LIVIN Foundation
A 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to prevent suicide by creating quality connections through everyday conversations about mental health, by way of programs and partnerships. “We can’t change the past, but together we can affect the future!” The LIVIN Foundation hosts 2 annual events, the Wheat Trail Festival in July and The LIVIN Music Festival in September. Both support outreach programs such as the LIVIN Foundation’s retreats for individuals and families who have been affected by suicide. Learn more about the movement and get involved by visiting www.livinfoundation.org